October is the best month for planting in San Diego gardens. It’s also an ideal time to mulch before winter rains start and lace trees to reduce wind damage.
Time to Plant
October is the best month to plant perennials, native plants and trees, cool season annuals and vegetables, and many bulbs. The only exceptions are tropicals and bare-root plants. But if it’s still hot early in the month, hold off on native plants and ground covers until late October or November.
Fall’s warm soil and cooler temperatures are perfect because they allow roots time to get well established before next summer’s heat. You won’t see much plant growth until spring, but by then your fall plantings will be ready to take off!
If you’re interested in adding native plants to your landscape, the California Native Plant Society San Diego Chapter is having a native plant sale on October 18. There you can not only find native plants for your yard, but also get expert advice on how to care for them.
Mulch Your San Diego Garden
Mulch beds before the rains start. The mulch will help keep your plants’ roots cool and hold moisture in the soil. Organic mulch will also add nutrients to your soil as it decomposes. Plus, it discourages weeds. Make sure your mulch layer is at least three inches thick. Keep it off trunks, stems and crowns of trees and shrubs. Piling mulch against trunks of plants and trees can cause rot and disease. For more information about different types of mulch, see the University of California fact sheet https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8672.pdf.
Lace Trees
Beautify landscape trees and reduce the risk of wind damage with an annual lacing of your trees. If done by a certified arborist, this is a skillful and artistic pruning to reveal a tree’s structure and allow wind to pass through. Arborists will know the best time of year to lace individual trees. They also can help save trees severely damaged by wind or fire.
To find a certified arborist in your area, go to the Professional Tree Care Association of San Diego County, and the International Society of Aboriculture.
San Diego Gardens Tips Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardens comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.